Last week, 14 Belles gathered for a riveting and spirited discussion of Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor—a fresh and compelling retelling of The Great Gatsby from the women’s perspectives.
Everyone loved the layered storytelling and the added murder mystery element. There's strong interest in both revisiting The Great Gatsby and reading more from Jillian Cantor.
A standout theme of the night was how the novel challenged us to rethink these iconic female characters. Many of us found it difficult to fully like them, given their limitations and dependence shaped by the time period. It sparked thoughtful conversation about how much has changed—or not—and how grateful we are to have more independence and agency today.
A huge thank you to Genevieve for being an incredible host. She leaned into the theme and period serving chicken à la king and deviled eggs, mixing up gin rickeys, and treating us to macaroons...alongside plenty of wine. Special shoutout to Basia for her sourdough chocolate chip cookies!
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, many wore green, adding a festive touch to an already wonderful evening.
